Islamist Group Claims Attack on Israeli Diplomat in Amman

An underground Islamic group, the Movement for the Struggle of the Jordanian Islamic Resistance, claimed Tuesday\'s shooting of an Israeli diplomat in

By Malik Athamneh and Agencies

Albawaba.com – Amman

An underground Islamic group, the Movement for the Struggle of the Jordanian Islamic Resistance, claimed Tuesday's shooting of an Israeli diplomat in Jordan, a statement received by AFP said Wednesday.

The group said it carried out "a surprise attack with machine-guns on a Zionist diplomat in Jabal Amman," in the second such incident involving Israeli diplomats in Jordan in two weeks.

Spokesman for the embassy Ro'i Gilaad told Albawaba.com at the Arab Heart Center that Shlomo Razabi was injured "lightly" when he was shot in the leg.

Albawaba.com's correspondent saw two bullet holes in the left side of the car.

Journalists were banned from entering the hospital, where another Israeli diplomat received treatment two weeks ago after he came under a similar attack by an anonymous person.

The same movement had claimed, also in a statement from Beirut, the November 19 shooting that wounded Israeli Vice Consul Yoram Havivian in the leg and in the hand as he was heading to the embassy in Amman.

"As we have warned before in the two previous attacks on Zionist diplomats, we are warning the Zionist entity in this third attack on the Zionist diplomat that it has to exit our dear country Jordan," it said.

It said the attack was carried out by "the group of the hero Ahmad al-Daqamsa, affiliated with the Movement for the Struggle of the Jordanian Islamic Resistance," according to the agency.

"We also warn all Jordanian businessmen who have economic interests with the Zionists in Jordan to end this partnership with Zionists in Jordan because the Zionist factories and interests will be targeted by our attacks," said the statement.

In the meantime, Israel prepared Wednesday to send home "unnecessary" embassy staff and their family members, Gilad said.

"Unnecessary staff (and family members) will be sent to Israel for the coming days," Roey Gilad told AFP.

Razabi, was also due to be flown home Wednesday after undergoing surgery for broken bones in the foot caused by a bullet wound.

For its part, Jordan denounced the attack and launched an investigation to determine the circumstances.

"It is our impression that they (the Jordanian authorities) are taking this case very seriously," Gilad said.